Kabuto is a bit confused.
After all, he had never seen such a brazen Root Ninja before.
Akihara Kagura was quite surprising; just moments ago, he was talking about how he had to follow the will of Root, but his actions seem to completely disregard it?
On one hand saying that he's forced to forget his name within the Root Organization...
On the other hand, because a Root Ninja calls him by his codename instead of his real name, he decisively strikes at his colleague...
"Kagura... Lord."
Kabuto hesitated but still respectfully addressed him, cautiously asking, "How's your life at Root?"
"It's okay."
Akihara Kagura felt his life was decent.
Akihara Kagura had been in the Root base for nearly half a month, and there hadn't been any major mishaps, and he got along well with his colleagues.
Even if Akihara Kagura made some minor mistakes, most of the other Root Ninjas had no standing to report to Shimura Danzo, or even if they did, Danzo wouldn't reprimand Akihara for such small matters.
After all...
Akihara Kagura always spoke on behalf of Lord Danzo.
Clearly.
Akihara Kagura was doing alright.
Other members weren't doing so well.
A few days ago, finally a Root Ninja filed a complaint, claiming Akihara Kagura refused to follow the orders they conveyed, his attitude was extremely arrogant when accepting orders, and he even questioned the authenticity of orders conveyed by members of Root...
In the end...
Akihara Kagura became even more brazen.
"What if you conveyed orders in the name of Lord Danzo?"
"I will only listen to Lord Danzo's words; I must see Lord Danzo personally and hear the orders he says himself."
"..."
Shimura Danzo did feel somewhat uncomfortable.
However, most members of Root wouldn't lie to Shimura Danzo, and they straightforwardly expressed Akihara Kagura's desire to solely be loyal to Shimura Danzo...
Loyalty expressed by others is clearly more believable than when proclaimed by oneself, and this made Shimura Danzo feel that it wasn't so bad after all.
Akihara Kagura was just a bit stubborn, demanding only that he receives orders personally...
Yet...
If this child only listens to me...
This could prevent the risk of this extraordinarily talented Wood Release boy being deceived or betrayed, turning him into a blade solely belonging to me.
Therefore...
Shimura Danzo gradually permitted all of this.
Who would refuse someone wanting only to be loyal to you?
"Let's go."
"We shall meet Lord Danzo."
Akihara Kagura looked at the tied-up Root Ninja: "If I find out that you've lied, I will kill you immediately!"
"How could I dare to forge Lord Danzo's orders..."
The Root Ninja felt a mix of humiliation and anger: "Never question the will of Root, nor our loyalty to Lord Danzo, brat, you're not the only one loyal to Lord Danzo…"
"I know, but I still don't trust it."
Akihara Kagura interrupted him, indifferent: "You're merely a bunch of folks constantly troubling Lord Danzo, reporting to him our petty squabbles…"
"You!"
The Root Ninja felt utterly infuriated!
All along, the Root Ninjas believed they had been tolerant of this brat, and yet this brat kept provoking their rather dull nerves...
"..."
Kabuto stood by, utterly dumbfounded.
This youth seemed just like himself, an orphan forced to join the Root Organization, yet how come he could so audaciously treat his colleagues within the organization?
However...
Kabuto quickly realized he was still too naive.
In the base of Root.
When Akihara Kagura brought Kabuto back, the two gatekeepers stationed at the base entrance turned their faces coldly away, seemingly unwilling to greet Akihara Kagura.
"Do you know him?"
Akihara Kagura stopped at the entrance, pointing to Kabuto beside him.
"..."
The two gatekeepers were still unwilling to face him.
"..."
Akihara Kagura paid no mind to their attitude, indifferently continuing: "Spread the word, no one's allowed to bully him.
"...Understood."
The two gatekeepers reluctantly responded.
"Uh."
Kabuto felt a bit unsure, softly saying: "Actually, there's no one really bullying me; I've always been out doing missions…"
"You don't get it."
Akihara Kagura appeared as if he understood everything, running down his colleagues: "These folks are only thinking about bullying and suppressing their co-workers. If you resist them, they'll report trivialities to Lord Danzo, a bunch of complete petty people."
"..."
The two gatekeepers couldn't help but feel like cursing.
What nonsense is this brat speaking, got it backwards?
All along, who's been bullying whom! Aren't there many within the Root Organization who haven't been deliberately bullied by this brat?
"It seems they don't dare bully you…"
Kabuto observed the two gatekeepers shaking with anger caused by Akihara Kagura, curiously asking, "How do you make them not dare bully you?"
"Easy."
Akihara Kagura looked at the two gatekeepers, wearing a proud expression: "Just bully them first, then they won't dare bully you."
"..."
What kind of hellish advice is this!
Kabuto didn't feel well at all!
Yet Akihara Kagura's method seemed somewhat effective; every Root Ninja they passed instinctively avoided them.
"Do you know Kabuto?"
Akihara Kagura would actively provoke, acting as though Kabuto belongs to him: "Come take a look, remember well, don't bully him anymore."
Akihara Kagura even grabbed a Root Ninja attempting to ignore them: "Forgot your ears in the dormitory? Can't hear me speaking? Take your mask off!"
"Brat, don't be excessive!"
The Root Ninja removed his mask, his face full of anger.
"What did you call me?"
Akihara Kagura's eyes lit up.
"I..."
The opponent pondered for less than a second, choosing not to quibble with a child: "Lord Kagura, I need to leave the base for a mission now."
"Remember him well."
Akihara Kagura pointed at Kabuto beside him, instructing: "In future missions, help me take care of him more often."
"I'll definitely take good care of him..."
The Root Ninja glanced at Kabuto, nodding with a bit of gritted teeth involved.
Kabuto observed the expression, involuntarily wishing to sigh internally.
Though Kabuto appreciated Akihara Kagura's intent to look after him, he knew Akihara Kagura's actions would only bring him more trouble...
How could he find footing within the Root Organization?
Originally, he might have been bullied, but now the likelihood could be he's secretly killed...
Akihara Kagura seemed not to grasp these things, being delighted as he looked at Kabuto: "Kabuto, they've all promised to take good care of you, for sure you'll live well to meet the director!"
"Kagura..."
Kabuto suddenly halted, quietly gazing at the seemingly naive youth, adjusting his glasses: "Are you... doing it on purpose? What goal do you have, really?"
"What doing it on purpose… what goal could I have?"
Akihara Kagura waved dismissively at Kabuto with disdain, acting uninterested: "Do you think you can help me accomplish something? I just want to thank you for your future help…"